Bag top chain stitching machine



y 15, 1952 J. B. SHELLEY 3,034,459

BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

4 55 7 24 z ma 0% JOSEPH 5. 5//44 1 BY %Wmm May 15, 1962 J. B. SHELLEY BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 M w u; H? i m H w N0 Q01 n w u "z n 1. n r u Q%\ WWW. I i I I I 1 1 I HP llllil filsil b, .QEATiiawzgm GI. aw l 2 a3 Q\ m "m in n I I win i@ w W U\| v v Filed Sept. 4, 1959 1. a NQ SQ INVENTOR. JOSEPH 5. SHELLEY,

BY I %%WM $34M 4 T70 eA/E Y5.

May 15, 1962 J. B. SHELLEY 3,034,459

BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.

d0JEP/v 5. SHELLEY,

r w r May 15, 1962 J. B. SHELLEY BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 3 ww I u n w? u I I u G W Nu O O a w %Q\ Q@ 0 0 Wm w m Q m H & Q

JOSEPH 5. SHELLEY;

May 15, 1962 J. B. SHELLEY BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 4, 1959 INVENTOR. JOSEPH 5. SHELLEY May 15, 1962 J. B. SHELLEY 3,0

BAG TOP CHAIN STITCHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 13.

INVENTOR. dos-0 5. Sf/[AAEX United States atent 3,034,459 BAG TOP CHAIN STlTCHlNG MACHINE Joseph B. Shelley, 1719 W. 34th St. N., Wichita, Kaus. Filed Sept. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 838,081 7 Claims. (Cl. 112-115)) The present invention relates to a machine for chain stitching the top of a filled bag.

Previously proposed and presently in use in the milling industry are bag top stitching machines for stitching closed the open top of a filled bag. Such machines generally employ'a single thread or string and a bag top thus closed by a single thread stitch is a source of inconvenience and annoyance to the individual when opening the bag for emptying the bag of its contents. Bags containing poultry or stock feed are used for many purposes after emptying and chain stitching of the open top of such a bag when filled is desirable for the reason that such stitching is quickly and completely removed in a well known manner not possible with a bag closed by stitching other than chain stitching.

An object of the present inventionis to provide a machine for closing the open top of a tilled bag with a chain stitch which lends itself to ease of operation in an etlicient manner, one which produces a chain stitch removed from a bag top by separating the tail of the stitching into separate threads and pulling upon the separated threads as is customary with chain stitching, and one which is economically feasible.

Another object of the present invent on is to provide a bag top chain stitching machine which is sturdily constructed and having few parts, one which requires a minimum of maintenance, and one which lends itself to operation by a relatively unskilled person.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the bag top chain stitching machine, according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the cover removed, a portion of the motor at one end being shown broken away; i

' Eat-outed May 15, 19512 at the start of executing the arc-uate movement toward and on said one side of the needle penetration point;

FIGURE 13 is the same sectional view as FIGURE 12, but showing the needle after having executed a substantial portion of its downward stroke in the process of taking the loop oh of the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm with the arm at the point close to the completion of its arcuate movement stroke toward and on the one or front side of the needle penetration point;

FIGURE 14 is the same sectional view as FIGURE 13, but showing the needle after having executed a further portion of its downward stroke and having received the loop from the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm after the latter has completed its execution of the arcuate movement toward and on the one side of the penetration point and has shifted laterally to the other side of the penetration point and before beginning the execution of its arcuate movement away from the needle penetration po nt and on the other side of such point;

FlGURE 15 is the same sectional view as FIGURE 14-, but showing the needle after having completed the execution of its downward stroke and having the received loop and other thread placed under tension and with the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm having partially executed its arcuate movement away from and on the other side of the needle penetration point; and

FIGURE 16 is the same sectional view as FIGURE 15, but showing the neerfle in the process of executing its upward stroke with the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm in the process of executing its arcuate movement away from the penetration point and picking a loop from the needle.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the bag stitching machine of the present invention has a base 1%- provided with a motor 12 at one end ther of. The base it? is hollow and a slot 14 extends through the plate to. which forms a top for the base 10. The slot 1 is shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 and is provided for the entry and exit penetration of a needle 18 supported in overhead position from the base it and FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of FIG- 7 FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of FlG- Y URE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of the chain stitch produced by the machine of the present invention, shown removed from the bag top;

FIGURE 9 is a view of a portion of a bag top with the stitch formed by the machine of the present invention shown closing the bag top;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary View of a modified form of the drive means for the machine of the present in vention;

FIGURE '11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the needle, presser foot, and thread-carrying and loop-forming arm of FIGURE 6, but with the material interposed between the presser foot and the top of the base in the process of being chain stitched according to the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-12 of FIGURE 11, showing the thread-carrying and loopforming arm on one or the front side of the needle and connected to the base 10 for upward and downward reciproca t ory movement.

A thread carrying and loop forming arm 24 is positioned transversely of and below the slot 14. (FIGURES 3; and 7) contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of the needle 1?.

The arm 2% is substantially L-shaped with one leg ofiset from the other and with one leg 22 received in a socket provided in an arm member 24, the one leg 22 being shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3.

The other leg as of the arm 2% is provided with an Fixefly secured to the portion of the shaft 32 supported in the trunnion block 34 is a cam follower 38 which has its free end riding upon and operativeiy connected to an eccentric 44; mounted upon a first driven shaft 42.

Means is provided connecting the needle 13 to the arm 20 so that the arm 24 executes in turn an arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of the penetration point of the needle 18, lateral movement-to the other side ofthe penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of the penetration point of the needle 18, followed by lateral movement to the aforesaid one .side

' single revolution of the shaft'44.

of the penetration point of the needle 18 responsive to execution of a single upward and downward stroke of the needle 18. This means includes the eccentric 48 on the shaft 42, and the cam follower 38 following the contour of the eccentric 40. The means also includes a transversely arranged second driven shaft 44 having a beveled gear 46 secured thereto. The motor 12 has its shaft 48 projecting into the base and carries thereon a beveled gear 50 in mesh with the gear 46. The gear 46 in turn is in mesh with a beveled gear 52 carried by the end portion of the shaft 42. Both the shafts 42 and 44 are driven by the motor shaft 48. On the shaft 44 is another eccentric 54. Linkage connects the arm member 24 to the eccentric 54 for effecting the arcuate movement of the arm 20 toward and away from the penetration point of the needle 18. A connecting rod 56 has one end encompassing and riding on the eccentric '54 and has the other end pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright arm 58 which has its lower end journaled in the transversely arranged trunnion block 68 secured to the base bottom 36. Another connecting rod 62 has one end pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 58 and has the other end pivotally connected to a knuckle member on the arm member 24, the knuckle member being designated in FIGURE 7 by the numeral 64.

An intermediate portion of the shaft 42 is supported in a bearing block 66 mounted on the base bottom 36 intermediate the ends of the latter. The ends of the shaft 44 are supported in suitable bearings 68 and 74 mounted on the side walls 72 and 74 of the base 10.

Another eccentric 76 is fixedly mounted upon the portion of the shaft 44 between the beveled gear 46 and the bearing 70. A connecting rod 78 has one end encompassing the eccentric 76 and has the other end extending upwardly into a hollow casing 80 carried above and by the base 10. The upper end of the connecting rod 78 is connected to one end of an arm 82 which has its other end pivotally connected to an arm member 84. The arm member 84 hasits lower end journaled in the trunnion block 86 carried on the bottom 88 of the casing 80. Another connecting rod 99 has one end fixedly secured to the upper end portion of the arm member 84 and its r revolution of the shaft 42. This means consists in another eccentric 114 mounted on the portion of the shaft 42 between the eccentric 40 and the portion of the shaft 42 below the needle 18. Still another eccentric 116 is mounted on the shaft 42 adjacent to and spaced from the eccentric 114. A trunnion block 118 is mounted on the base bottom 36 and rotatably supports a shaft 120 extending therethrough. A first arm 122 extends upwardly from the shaft 128 and is fixedly secured thereto. A claw element 124 has one end pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 122 and has its other end bifurcated and slidably received on the eccentric 116. The claw element 124 has claw teeth 126 projecting upwardly through slots 128 arranged on each side of the slot 14 in the plate 16. Formed integrally with the arm 122 is another arm 13% rockably supported upon the same shaft 120. The upper end of the am 130 has received therethrough a shaft 132 also extending through the upper end of the arm 122. A connecting rod 134 has one end mounted upon the shaft 132 and has its other end encircling and operatively connected to the eccentric 114. The eccentrics 114 and 116 are arranged relative to each other on the shaft 42 so that the teeth 126 of the claw element 124 execute gripping engagement with the bag top as they move in the slots 128 from one end of the presser foot 98 to the other end and drop below the slots 128 when they execute their return movement to the forward or open front end of the presser foot 98.

A slot 136 (FIGURES l and 2) extends from the slot 14 in the plate 16 to the portion of the base 10 remote from the needle 18. Bridging the slot 136 is a thread cutting assembly 138 which includes a blade '140 mounted for movement across the open end of the slot 136.- The 7 lower end portion of the blade 140'is pivotally secured other end pivotally connected to one end of a link 92 which has its other end pivotally connected to a bushing 94 fixedly secured to a needle support rod 6 journaled in the casing'80 for reciprocal up and down movement and supporting on its lower end the needle 18.

The eccentric 76, connecting rod 78, arm 82, arm member 84, connecting rod 90, link 92 and bushing 94 constitute the means connecting the shaft 44 to the needle 18 so that the needle 18 executes a single upward and downward stroke through the slot 14" responsive to a A presser foot 98, having a needle opening 100 therein, overlies the slot 14 with the opening 100 in registry with the slot 14. The presser foot 98 is mounted on the lower end of a presser foot rod 102 slidable in the casing 80 and biased to the position in abutment with the plate 16 by a compression spring 104 circumposed about the portion of the presser foot rod 102 within the casing 80. One end of the spring 104 bears against the lower end portion of an adjusting sleeve 106 threaded in the top of the casing 80, as shown in FIGURE 4', and the other end of the spring 104 bears against one side of a collar 108 fixedly secured on the rod 102.

Reciprocating claw means, designated generally by the reference numeral 110, vis cooperatively arranged with respect to the presser foot 98 for guiding and shifting under the presser foot 98 the top. of a bag to be stitched closed, the bag top being shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE 4 and designated by the reference numeral 112.

Means is provided connecting the claw means 110 to the shaft 42 so that the claw means 110 executes one complete reciprocating stroke responsive to. a single to the adjacent portion of the side wall 142 of an extension 144 on the base 10. In FIGURE 4, a portion of the side wall 142 is cutaway to show the arms 122 and 130. The lower end portion'of the blade 140 is shown in phantom view pivotally secured to the side wall 142 by a screw member 146, also shown in phantom view.

A shaft 148 is supported at one end in the side wall 142 (FIGURE 6) and has the portion adjacent the other end supported in a bearing block 150, as shown in FIG- URE 7. A portion of the shaft 148 exteriorly of the side wall 142 is fixedly secured to one end of an actuating arm 152. The other end of the actuating arm 152 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 154 which has its other 'end pivotally connected to the upper end portion of the of an operating connecting rod 160. The other end of the rod 160 is secured in another clevis 162 which is pivotally connected to a lug 164 projecting from the portion of the connecting rod 78 which surrounds the eccentric 76.

It will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 44, the eccentric 76 imparts reciprocatory movement to the rod 160 which in turn rocks the arm 156 and the actuating arm 152 to shift the blade across the slot 136 with a complete reciprocatory cutting movement for every rotation of the shaft 44.

In FIGURE 1, strings 166 and 168 are represented by dotted lines, the strings 166 and 168 being fed to the machine of the present invention from a suitable supply. The string 166 travels througha first guide 170, through a tensioning device 172, over a hook 174, through an eye formation 176 on the upper end of the needle support rod 96, through another guide 178 on the face of the machine and thence to the eye of the needle ,18. The other string 168 travels through a first guide 180, through a tensioning device 182, through an eye formation 18,4, and thence through a hollow. tubular guide 186' to the aperture 28 in the end of the leg 26 of the arm 20.

An access opening 188 is provided in the one sidewall 72 of the base and a spring biased cover 190 covers the opening 188 in order that the mechanism within the base It can be protected from dirt and dust.

in operation, the chain stitching machine of the present invention is supported in such a position that the bag top 112 is easily inserted under the presser foot 93. Preferably, the machine is suspended from a flexible ele ment (not shown) so that it may be manually shifted along the top of a bag that has been filled and which is to be closed. Y

Upon energization of the motor 12, the motor shaft 4% drives the shafts 42 and 44 at an equal speed and the eccentric 54 on the shaft 44 effects the reciprocatory movement to the linkage connecting the eccentric 54 to the arm member 24. At the same time the cam follower 38 on the eccentric 40 imparts lateral movement to the arm member 24. This results in lateral and transverse movement of the arm 26 toward and away from the point of penetration of the needle 18 as the needle 18 executes its upward and downward movement with one complete upward and downward movement for each complete transverse and lateral movement of the arm 20. This results in the needle is picking up a loop from the arm 26 and forming a chain stitch in the material of the bag top 112, as shown in FlGURE 9. This stitch, shown apart from the bag top 112, is shown in FIGURE 8, which is the formation of a tail on each side of the bag top, one of which is available for unraveling so that the separate strings 166 and 163 may be grasped and pulled apart unraveling the chain stitch from the bag top 112.

As each bag top 112 is stitched closed, the machine is permitted to run to form the tail and when a length of tail has been developed by the action of the needle 18 and arm 29, the machine is tilted so that the tail is inserted into the slot 136 where it is severed by the blade 149 on its next reciprocating movement. It will be found that this manipulation of the machine by the operator will become automatic and will require little attention as the operator closes one bag top after another, separating the chain stitch tail at a point desired between adjacent bag tops. 3

In FIGURE 10, a modified form of the drive means is shown, in which the base 10' has a bearing block 11 in one wall supporting a drive shaft 13 on one end of which is a'drive pulley 15. The other end of the shaft 13' carries a first bevel gear 50', drivingly engaging gears 46' and v 52', the latter having the same function as the gears 46 and 52, above described. This arrangement permits the.

fixing of several of the machines in a line and driving them from an external source of rotary power.

It is to be noted that FIGURE 11 illlustrates the material interposed between the presser foot and the top of the base in the process of being chain stitched according to the process of the present invention, and FIG- URES 12m 15 inclusive illustrate the movements of the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm when executing its arcuate paths of movement on opposite sides of the needle penetration point with the shifting of the arm from one side to the other side of the needle penetration point, all in response to the execution of the complete downward stroke of the needle and partial execution of the upward stroke of the needle. It is to be observed that as the needle executes its upward movement from the position shown in FIGURE 16 the thread-carrying and loop-forming arm completes its execution of the arcuate movement away from the penetration point and the arm shifts laterally to the one or front side of the penetration point or the position of FIGURE 12.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrough, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit 6 through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, a second driven shaft, means connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, and means connecting said arm to said first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in turn an arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side of said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of said penetration point, and lateral movement to said one side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needle through said slot.

2. In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrongh, a presser foot overlying said slot and connected to said base for movement relative thereto,

said foot being provided with a needle opening in registry with said slot, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, 21 second driven shaft, means connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, means connecting said arm to said first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in turn an arcuate movement a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side or" said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of said penetration point, and lateral movement to saidone side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needle through said slot, reciprocating claw means cooperatively arranged with respect to said presser foot, and means connecting said claw means to said first shaft so that said claw means executes one complete reciprocating stroke responsive to a single revolution of said first shaft.

3. in a bag top chain stitching machine, a base pro vided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrongh, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, a second driven shaft, means embodying an eccentric and linkage operatively connecting said eccentric to said needle connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution vof. said second shaft, and means connecting said arm tosaid first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in turn an arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side of said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of said penetration point, and lateral movement to said one side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needle through said slot.

4. In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrough, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to' the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, a second driven shaft, means connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, and means embodying a first eccentric on said first shaft, a second eccentric on said second shaft,

and linkage operatively connecting said first and second eccentrics to said arm connecting said arm to said first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in movement to said one side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said.

needle through said slot. v

5. In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrough, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, a second driven shaft, means embodying a first eccentric on said second shaft and linkage operatively connecting said first eccentric to said needle connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, and means embodying a second eccentric on said first shaft, a third eccentric on said second shaft, and linkage operatively connecting. said second and third eccentrics to said arm connecting said arm to said first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in turnan arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side of said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of said penetration point, and lateral movement to said one side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needle through said slot. v

'6, In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base'provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrough, a presser foot overlying said slot and connected to said base for movement relative thereto, said foot being provided with a needle opening in registry with said slot, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and, arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, means connecting said arm top said first and second driven shafts so that said arm executes in turn an arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side of said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of said penetration point, and lateral movement to said one side of said penetration point respo'nsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needie through said slot, reciprocating claw means cooperatively arranged with respect to said presser foot, and means embodying an eccentric on said first shaft and linkage operatively connecting said eccentric to said claw means connecting said claw means to said first shaft so that said claw means executes one complete reciprocating stroke responsive to a single revolution of said first shaft.

7. In a bag top chain stitching machine, a base provided with a slot for entry and exit penetration of a needle therethrough, a presserfootoverlying said slot and connected to said base for movement relative thereto, said foot'being provided with a needle opening in registry with said slot, an overhead thread carrying needle supported from said base for upward and downward movement and arranged so that it will enter and exit through said slot, a thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, a second driven shaft, means embodying a first eccentric on said secondtshaft and linkage operatively connecting said first eccentric to said needle connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said needle executes a single upward and downward stroke through said slot responsive to a single revolution of said second shaft, and means embodying a second eccentric on said first shaft, a third eccentric, on said second shaft, and linkage operatively connecting said second and third eccentrics to said arm connecting said arm to said first and second. driven shafts so that said arm executes in turn an arcuate movement in a transverse direction toward and on one side of said penetration point, lateral movement to the other side of said penetration point, arcuate movement in a transverse direction away from and on the other side of saidvpenetration point, and lateral movement to said one side of said penetration point responsive to a single upward and downward stroke of said needle through said slot, reciprocating clawmeans cooperatively arranged with respect to said presser foot,

v and means embodying a fourth eccentric on said first shaft through said slot, 2. thread carrying and loop forming arm positioned transversely of and below said slot contiguous to the point of entry and exit penetration of said needle, a first driven shaft, 21 second driven shaft, means connecting said second shaft to said needle so that said 6 needle executes a single upward and downward stroke and linkage operatively connecting said fourth eccentric to said claw means connecting said claw means to said first shaft so that said claw means executes one complete reciprocating stroke'responsive to a single revolution of said first shaft;

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1 ,266,036 Molynewx et al May 14, 1918 2,351,831 Muecke June 20, 1944 2,360,284 Sauer Oct. 10, 1944 

